Type-writing machine.



{ w. A. LORENZ.

TYPE WRI'I'INGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.I6,1909.

Patented Dec, 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS SHEET I.

W. A. LWENZ.

- TYPE wmrmc momma.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, I909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTUH UNITED STATES OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. LORENZ, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO THE NOISELESS TYPEVJBITER COMPANY, OF MIDDLETOWN, CON-NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

iatented Dec. 21, 1915.

To all IIIZOIIL it may concern Be it known that I, \VILLIAM A. LORENZ, acitizen of the l nited States, residing at Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in T yperiting Machines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact descriptiomsuch as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to typewriting ma chines, and one of the objectsthereof is to provide new and in'lproved means for adjusting the platenwith respect to the printing plane.

Another object is to provide, in a machine employing silentlyo ieratingtype bars which have limited movements in the direction of the platen,means whereby the platen may be moved to the proper positionto receivethe printing pressure of the type bars when the printing is to beeffected upon a plurality of impression sheets.

Another object is to provide means for holding'the platen in fixedposition after adjustment.

A further object is to provide a new and improved gage for measuring thethickness or thicknesses of a sheet or sheets of paper upon whichprinting is to be ellccted.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in. the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction here inafter setforth. and the scope ofthe appli cation of which will be indicated in the tollowing claims. 4

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated one of severalpossible embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of aportion of a carriage of a type writing machine sufficient to illustratethe. presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1. partlyinsection; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 3- Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is afront elevation 01 the let'thand end of the carriageshown in Fig. i:Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through a t vpewriting machine, showingthe carriage in position, and one of the type actions; Fig. 6 isasectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the printing platen, the viewbeing taken on line (3-6, Fig. 1: and Fig. 7 is a similar view of a dilt'erent embodiment of'printing platen.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 rep resents a portion of the framing ofthe machine supporting the bed or top plate :2 which, in turn, supportsthe type bars 3 and across which they are projected. The type-bars areguided to the impression point by means of a cap-plate 4 and guide pins5 and G and are connected by means of links 7 with a toggle cam 8,pivoted at 10 in 'an adjustable block 11, the latter being su 'iportedupon a ledge 12 formed upon the framing of the machine. Clamp-screws,such as shown at 13, fasten the blocks 11 in position after adjustment,which may be effected by means of the adjusting screws 14. The aims 8are oscillated to project the typebars to impression by means of lovers15 and links 16 which connect them with the key levers. one of which isshown at 1-7 pivoted upon a support 18. The above-described actuatingi'ncchanism for the type-bars is of the general character of thatillustrated in the patent to I. Kidder, No. 567,241, September 8, 1896,and the construction thereof is such that each type-bar has a predetermined throw in the direction of the platen, the aces of the severaltypes assuming a common plane at the termination of The carriage issupported upon balls rimwar be shifted verlicallv for dillerent case f H4.9" pi |ntin and din run this opeialion ioc a slides up and down uponthe vertical face Q8 of abutment l and the carriage, when letter spacingmovements are ell'ected, slides in the block 27. \\'lll('ll is heldagainst lateral movement.

The printing platen l lis attached at its ends to slides :15 and 36which are dovetailed in the side pieces 2 and 21. of the carriage, thisdovetailed construction bein shown at 37 in Fig. l. platen-roll 3 hasits shaft 40 jonrnaled in slides 35 and 3G and the platen has a concaveback which rests against the platen-roll. Links ii and Mengage the shaft40 of the platen-roll, one on each end, and by means of studs 43 engagecam slots it in the side pieces and 21 of the carriage. These studs areengaged by forked arms 45 attached to an oscillating or rock-shaft l6extending across the car riage and journaled in the side pieces thereof.To the outer ends of shaft it; are secured indicator hands 47, the outerends of which arev provided with indicators-l8 which cooperate withcurved, graduated indices '50 formed upon the carriage.

The operation of this structure ma y now beunderstood. l ormally theplaten lies in proximity to the plane assumed by the faces of theseveral types when they are projected to impression, so that saidtype-faces will just barely contact therewith. So located, the platen isin proper position to permit the printing to be effected upon a singlesheet of paper positioned thereon. *When it is desired to adjust theplaten to or from the zero position of the faces of the type-bars theoperator inserts the desired amount of paper in the carriage and infront of the printing platen 31 Then the pointers 48 50 are shifted tothe number which corresponds to the number of sheets inserted in thecarriage. This, of course, assumes that the graduation has been mrde inconformity with a standard thickness-of paper so that each number on thescale will correspond to the number of sheets inserted in the carriage.By moving the pointer to the corresponding figure on the scale, theroek-shaft 46 and arms 45 will be oscillated, carrying the studs 43 andlinks 41 upward, the studs following the curvature of the cam grooves44, thereby drawing the two slides and 36, the platen roll and theprinting platen 34 backward to the desired extent. The distance of theputting platen. from the faces meager:

' separated by first of the types will then be that desired for printingupon the particular number of sheets inserted.

The cam-gro0ves 44, xbeingdisposed at a slight angle to the direction ofmovement of the platen and associated parts, will prevent recession ofsaid parts during the printing operation. i

I have also provided paper gaging devices on the carriage, which may belocated at one side of the carriage or at both sides thereof, as shownin the drawing. being similar one only need be described in order toimpart a clear understanding of this feature of the invention. This gagecomprises fingers or jaws 51 and 52, one of which is the'other upon thecarriage proper. These jaws are provided with opposed faces 53 and Sibetween which the paper to be measured may be inserted. In Figs. 1, 2and 3 of the drawings, the gaging faces 53 and 54 are shown in contactor closed, and when in this position the indicator-hand 47 will also bein the zero position, as will be the printing platen 3- in using thisdevice, the desired number of sheets are placed between the gaging faces53 and 54; which have been pushing back the indicator-hand l7. the paperuntil the face 53 just gages the thickness of the paper. The paper isthen slipped from between the jaws and inserted in the carriage, asshown at 55l*ig. 5. The

distance to which the platen has been moved back fronithe position shownin Fig. 2 will then be the correct one for printing, leaving a spacebetween the type-faces and said platen which will cause the properimpression upon the several sheets of paper to be produced.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 6 of the drawings, a plurality ofrecesses 56 leaving narrow bearing surfaces 57 which'rest againsttheplaten-roll 38. The platen-roll being construeted of relatively hardmaterial, preferably hardenedrubber, it is desirable to form theserecesses in the platen in order that the latter may give way or bepressed back slightly in order to cushion the blow of the printingoperation, thus slightly reducing the noise.

In Fig. 7 a modified form of printing platen is shown in which theplaten is provided with a Hat front face 58, the platen being made verythin and bearing against the platen-roll 38 at its middle portion 60,and at. the edges 61 and (52, leaving recesses (53 and roll. This platenwill, therefore, have three supporting surfaces against the platan-roilduring the printing operation and will give way slightly, thus operatingto cushion the blow and reduce the noise.

These devices mounted upon the slide 35'and' The faces are then closedupon the platen M is provided with between the platen andthe platen- Itwill accordingly be seen that I have provided mechanism of the abovetype adapted to attain, among others, all the ends platen with respectto the normal printing plane.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a pressure operated typebar, a fixed abutment on the frame of the machine in line with themovemept of the type'bar at substantially the end ofaits stroke adaptedto take up the thrust thereof, a paper car-,

rier movable relatively to said abutment,

and means associated with said carrier for.

moving a portionthereof toward and from said abutment relatively to thenormal printing plane.

2. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of type barshaving a limited path of travel to a normal printing plane, a fixedabutment, a carriage adjacent said abutment and held against rearwardmovement thereby in the direction of movement of said type bars, and apaper carrier mounted on said carriage and movable relatively to saidabutment and the normal printing plane.

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a plurality of type barshaving a limited path of travel. a iiXed abutment, a carriage adjacentsaid abutment. a frame mounted on said carriage a paper roller car'-ried by said frame and movable relatively to said frame and saidabutment toward and from a normal printing plane. and means for.indicating the distance between said paper roller and normal printingplane.

4. In a typewritin; machine, incombination. a plurality of type barsil'tl\'(llll toward a normal printing plane, a fixed abutment, acarriage adjacent said abutment, a paper roller mounted on saidcarriane, and a flat platen adiacent said roller, said platenand platenroller being n'iovable on said carriage relatively to said abutment andtoward and from the normal printing plane.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with the type bars each ofwhich has a limited throw in the direction of the platen, of a platencarriage, an abutment which furnishes a rigid backing therefor andprevents the yielding thereof during printing, a platen roll, means onthe carriage foradjusting said platen roll toward or from the end of thethrow of said type bars, and means for indicating the position thereofwithrespect to the normal printing p ane.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation with a plurality ofdirect-thrust type bars each of which has a limited throw in 'thedirection of the platen, of a platen carriage, a member forming a rigidbacking for the platen carriage and preventing recession thereof duringprinting, a platen roll carried by the platen carriage, a platen carriedthereby, an adjustable support upon the platen carriage for said rolland platen, and means for moving said support forwardly or rearwardly,whereby the platen and platen-roll may be correspondingly moved withrespect to the, normal printing plane.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a plurality of typebars, of a platen carriage, a member forming a rigid backing for theplaten carriage and preventing recession thereof during printing, aplaten roll carried by the platen carriage, a platen also carriedthereby, an adjustable support upon the platen carriage for said rolland said platen, means for moving said support forwardly or rearwardly,whereby the platen di'nd platen-roll may be correspondingly moved withrespect to the nor-v mal printing plane, and means for indicating theamount of such movement.

8. In a typewriting machine, in combina tion, a type bar adapted to havea limited throw in the direction of the platen, a platen carriagecomprising a frame, a platen roller, a platen roller support adjustablymounted upon the frame, and means upon the frame adapted to move theplaten roller support toward and from the end of the path of travel ofthe type carrier whcreby the posi tion of the platen roller with respectto the normal printing plane may be varied.

9. In a tvpewriting machine, the combination with a plurality of typebars, a platen ca riage, a platen carrier mounted to slide upon theplaten carriage, a platen and a platen-loll carried by said carrier,means for sliding said platen carrier forwardly or rearwardly upon theplaten carriage, and means for actuating saiddast-mentioned means andfor indicating the amount of movement given said platen carrier.

upon the platen carriage,

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with type bars, of aplaten carriage, slides mounted upon the carriage, a platen-- rolljournaled in said slides, a platen. hearing against the platen-roll, andmeans for moving said slides forward and backward whereby the platen iscorrespomlingly moved with respect to the normal printing plane.

11. In a'typewriting machine, the combi nation with type bars which havepredetermined throws in the direction of the platen, of a platencarriage, slides mounted upon the carriage, a platen-roll journaled insaid slides, a platen bearing againstthe platen roll, means for movingsaid slides torward and backward whereby the platen 1h correspondinglymoved with respect to the normal printing plane, means for actuatingsaid means, and indicating means cooperating with said actuating means.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation with the type bars eachof which has a 'n-edetermined throw in the direction of the platen, of arigid abutment, a platen carriage interposed between the faces of thetypes and said abutment, said platen carriage being capable of movementwith respect to said abutment for different case printing orletter-spacing, slides mounted a platen-roll journaled in said slides, aplaten fixed to said slides and resting against the face of theplaten-roll, cam means carried by the carriage and cooperating with saidslides to move them forwardly or rearwardly, whereby the platen, iscorrespondingly moved with respect to thacommonplane assumed by thefaces of the types when they are projected to impression, and meansmounted upon the carriage for actuating said cam means.

13. In a typewritingmachine, the combination with thetype bars, of anabutment, a carriage resting against said abutment and -movable withrespect thereto for letterspacing and different case printing, a platenframe mounted to slide upon the carriage, a platen-roll journaled'therein, a platen fixedto said slide and restingagainst the platen-roll,a rock-shaft. journaled on the carriage, said carriage having cam slotsformed in the end walls thereof, arms connected with the platen-roll andhaving means engaging, said cam-slots, an arm mounted upon each end ofsaid rock-shaft and operatively' connected with one of saidfirst-mentioned arms, a second arm attached to said rock-shaft andadapted to rotate the same, whereby the platen frame, through said camslots, will be moved with respect to the printing plane, and a scalewith which said last-mentioned arm cooperates to indicatethe position ofthe platen with respect to the normal printing plane.

14. In a, typewriting machine, the comb1- nation with the carriageaplaten frame adjustably mounted!hereon. and a paper gage one portion ofwhich is carried by the calrlage and the other by the platen frame.

1.). In a trpmrriting machine, in combination. a carriage, a platencarrier adjustabl mounted thereon, and a paper gage comprising a pairol' jaws one of which is mounted upon the carriage and the other thereofupon the platen carrier.

10. In a t \'pe\\'rlling machine, in combination, a carriage. a platencarrier mounted thereon and adapted to be adjusted to carry the platentoward or lromthe normal printing plane, a paper page comprising a pairol clamp jaws one oi: which is mounted upon the carriage and the otherthereofupon the platen carrier, and means lorindicating the relativeposition of said jaws.

17. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, a platencarrier mounted thereon and adjustable forwardly and rearwardly tocarrythe platen toward or from-' the normal printing plane, a paper gagecomprising a member carried by the platen frame, a member carried by theplaten car rier, said member having opposing facesbetween which thepaper is received.

18. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, a platencarrier adjustably mounted thereon, a paper gage comprising a pair ofopposed jaws one of which is mounted upon the thereof upon the platencarrier, and means for. indicating the relative positionof said jaws. I

19. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, a platencarrieradjustably mounted thereon, a paper gage comprising a pair ofopposed jaws one of which is mounted upon the carriageand the otherthereof upon the platen carrier, means for moving said jaws relativelyto each other,

carriage and the other and means for indicating the amount of such 7movement.

20. In a typewritmg machine, IXI COmbI- nation, a carriage, a platencarrier adjustthereon, a paper gage c0m-- longitudinally extendingrecesses upon its rear face.

22..In a typewriting machine, the combination with the platen frame, ofa paper roll carried thereby, a platen having its ends' face forreceiving the types and.

means for meas es 5 secured to the platen frame and its rear faceresting in contact with the paper roll and conforming thereto, saidplaten being provided with a plurality of recesses upon its rear faceleaving a plnralit of raised. portions engaging the paper roll.

23. In a typewritingmachine, in combination, a movable paper carrier, arelatively fixed part, and a paper gage, one portion of which is carriedby said paper carrier and 10 the other part by said relatively fixedpart. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. LORENZ.

